Starting device for gas-engines.



R; c. HI LLER & n. W: WADE. 9 STARTING DEVICE FOR GAS ENGINES.

' Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

APPLIUATIOK FILED DBO. 21, 1 910.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD C. I-ITLLEB AND DAVID W. WADE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

.srnnrme DEVICE FOR GAS-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, RICHARD C. HILLER and DAVID \VQ WA E, citizens of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Star-ting Devices for Gas-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to starting devices for gas engines, and is particularly adapted and intended for use on an automobile, to provide a device by which the engine can be started from the seat or usual position of the driver.

' The invention includes means which will prevent any possible injury from back fire or kick of the engine.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is an elevation in partial side elevation showing the manner of applying the device to an automobile. Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of the apparatus.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 6

indicates a casmg which is mounted upon the frame of the vehicle, and this casing has side bars 7 and 8 containing cam like projections or inclines 7 and 8 respectively, the function of which is described hereinafter. Mounted in supports on the casing is the fixed shaft 9, with a sleeve 10 loose thereon, said sleeve being integral with a gear 10*, and having ratchet teeth 10 at one end.. i

11. is a cooperating ratchet member loose on the shaft 9, and provided with a lever arm 11 connected by a rod 12 to a suitable operating lever as illustrated at 12,located in convenient position for operation by the driver, when the invention is applied to automobile use. A spring 13 bears against the member 11 and tends to throw it into engagement with the ratchetteeth 10 of the sleeve 10. The member 11 has thereon a cam projection 15 which works against the incline 8 and when the member is .turned to throw the cam against said incline the member 11 is forced out of engagement with the member 10, the spring 13 being then compressed. When the member 11 is swung baclngthe spring returns the same to reengagement with the member 10.

.16 is a shaft which is supported partly in hearings in the casing referred to and partly on the frame of the machine, and this shaft is capable of limited movement axially. Itcarries a pinion 19 fast thereon and in mesh with the gear 10, and a spring 17in compression between the pinion and the side piece of the casing normally holds said shaft in the position illustrated in Fig. 2. The other end of the shaft has a bevel pinion 18 thereon adapted to mesh with bevel pinion 24 on the engine shaft 23, which latter ma be the ordinary crank shaft of the englne. Mounted to turn on the shaft 16'is a cam member 22, witha lever arm 20 connected by rod 21 to an operating lever 21. The cam 22 abuts at one side against a shoulder 22 on the shaft 16, and at the other side with its cam surface against the incline 7 on the side piece 7.

The operation is as follows :-When it is desired to start the :engine the rod 21 is pulled, and by means of the cam 22 acting against the incline 7 the shaft'16 is shifted axially until the pinion 18 meshes with the pinion 24. The lever 12 is. then worked back and forth, thereby rocking the memher 11, and on the backward movement its teeth engage the teeth 10 and turn the gear 1Q, which motion is communicated through the pinion 19, shaft 16 and pinions 18 and 24, to the engine shaft. \Vhen the *lever 12 is swung forwardly the cam 15 strikes the incline 8 and rides ,up the same, thereby disengaging the ratchet teeth. The operation may be-repeated, if necessary to start the engine. When the engine starts the lever 21 is released and the spring 17 shifts the shaft 16 and disengages the pinions 18 and 24:, the cam 22 sliding down the incline 7. 3

Having thus described :our invention,

what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a starting device for gas engines,

the combination with the engine shaft, of a. longitudinally shiftable shaft, gears between said shafts, a spring pressing the shift-able shaft to position .with the gears disengaged, manually operated means to n shift the shaft against the pressure of the spring to engage the gears, and manually operated means to turn the shiftable shaft, including a clutch and devices for automatically disengaging the clutch during re-.

with said clutch member to turn the same and the gear in one direction, means oper shaft,.including a longitudinally shiftable shaft, a spring tending to shift said shaft and disengage ,the transmission mechanism when the shaft is turned in one direction, and a cam acting on the shaft to shift the same and engage the transmission mech- RICHARD (J. HILLER.

DAVID W. WADE. Witnesses: I

JOHN A. BOMMHARDT,

STEDMAN J. ROCKWELL.

if Gepi es pf this patent may he obtainedfor five cents each, by addressing-the Commissioner of Petents Washington, D. 0;" 

